With Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Janet Yellen waiting to take her place as Fed Chief, most investors have revised their taper expectations to March of 2014. Yellen spoke at a Senate hearing last week at which she expressed support for the bank's current quantitative easing program. With such a dovish leader taking over the US central bank, most are expecting to see easy money policies continue well into 2014.
US jobs data coming up in November and December will likely determine Yellen's course of action in January. Particularly strong figures could prompt the new Fed chief to taper a small amount in January, but only if US economic indicators show the nation is ready to stand on its own, particularly in regard to the jobs market.
Meanwhile, the euro climbed modestly after Germany's ZEW survey showed the region was headed in the right direction. Bloomberg reported that the ZEW index, which is designed to predict economic conditions six months in advance, rose to 54.6, its highest level since October 2009. The reading beat analyst expectations of 54 and jumped from last month's 52.8 reading.
The survey was a bright spot after inflation data cast a shadow of doubt on the eurozone's fragile recovery. Falling inflation has many worried that the eurozone could slip into a period of deflation if the region's policy makers don't counter the problem effectively. However, the European Central Bank has been very vocal about its confidence in the bank's ability to fight slipping inflation if it continues to be a problem.